This blog accompanies the TV documentary series SAMAQAN: Water Stories. The blogger is also the principal writer for the series and has over twenty years of experience in producing as an independent aboriginal producer. www.samaqan3/ca

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

MAORI WAKA, DUGOUT CANOE AND BIRCH BARK

2012 was the first time that
three cultures from different parts of the world were merged to form one canoe
family and I was fortunate enough that last year to witness their canoes among
88 others that landed on the shores of Squaxin Island. This was first time the Anishinaabe
people from Ontario, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Maori from New
Zealand participated in Tribal Journeys, and our crew was able to witness the
many stages of their adventure.

Maori Canoe Family

In 2007 an idea was built out of
a trade mission between the Maori people and the people of Skokomish to build a
replica war canoe. This idea was originally supposed to be to build a model
canoe but then the idea got bigger, 20 feet bigger to be exact. This was when
the Maori Waka (Maori Watercraft) was started and in 2012 Dr. Takirirangi Smith
and a group of Maori traveled back to Washington State to finish what they
started so that they could join the Paddle to Squaxin. Dr. Takirirangi Smith
along with Skokomish artist and carver John Smith made a plan to finish this
canoe on time for the 2012 Paddle to Squaxin and they did just that, but
better. They ended up merging the Maori Waka and the Skokomish canoe to form
one to signify their unity during this journey.

Dr Takiri Rangi Smith & John Smith

Our team was also able to catch
up with Anishinaabe Canoe Builder Wayne Valier from Lac de Flambeau to witness
the final stages of construction of the Birch Bark Canoe. We show Wayne as he
prepares the canoe for its first launch into the Ocean in Skokomish that is
celebrated from the shore. We were in for a surprise because it was our second
season Waterwalk friends, Josephine Mandamin. Tina Kukahn-Miller and Sylvia
Plain who would be part of the international canoe family.

Sylvia Plain and Henare Tahuri, with Wayne Valier and Myeengen

Through this journey we saw and
traveled with many canoe families but none like the Maori Waka, the Skokomish
canoe and the Anishinaabe Birch Bark canoe that all traveled together on this epic
journey out to sea. The merging of cultures was definitely a site to see,
weather it be on the water, in the carving shed or during protocol where we got
to see some of the traditional songs and dances. This episode of Samaqan: Water
Stories is definitely a must see. You realize in that moment when you watch the
canoe’s as they paddle their way to Squaxin Island, just how similar our cultures
from different worlds are, our dances, our stories, our love for nature, our
love of the water and our love for one another.

(Our spirit is connected to water
~ Dr. Takirirangi Smith)

This quote from Dr. Takirirangi
Smith in this episode is something that
resonated with me on a personal level. I grew up on the west coast of British
Columbia and I’m from a commercial fishing family where life is on the water
and still to this day I feel a spiritual connection to water that is hard to
explain. This is the same for many First Nations and Aboriginal cultures from
all across the globe, especially the ones that participate in Tribal Journeys.